Officials of La Pointe Iron Co., one of the owners of the property that Gogebic Taconite unsuccessfully sought to develop as a massive open pit mine, met with local representatives in Hurley to discuss reviving mining plans.

Milwaukee County

Sheriff's budget faces possible $4.6 million shortfall

Journal Sentinel files

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr.

This year's budget for Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. is headed for a $4.6 million deficit by year's end, according to a report Thursday from the county comptroller.

The sheriff's office said most of the costs were linked to positions that had their funding cut in Clarke's 2014 budget, but which he nevertheless has kept in place. The sheriff's overall budget is $78.7 million.

Clarke kept a net of 23 positions filled even though the sheriff's 2014 budget provided no funding for them, according to a letter from the sheriff's office.

The cuts show a lack of understanding of the leadership needs in the sheriff's office, according to the department's letter.

"In addition, apparently they do not fully grasp the difference in staffing needs between a Monday through Friday, one-shift operation and the needs of a 24-7 law enforcement agency," the letter said.

Clarke kept all five deputy inspectors in place, even though the budget cut funding for three of them.

Clarke also kept 12 captains though funding for eight disappeared. And 18 sergeants remain in the department, though funding was cut for six of them.

In addition, Clarke kept his two inspectors — Richard Schmidt and Edward Bailey — on the job, even though the budget included funding for only one of them.

Abele has said the cuts were made because the sheriff's office was top-heavy with managers.

Clarke's projected deficit also included $520,000 in overtime costs beyond what was budgeted and a shortfall of $1.1 million in revenue from fewer federal prisoners being held at the county jail.

Despite a request, the sheriff's office didn't provide any suggestions for ways to fix the projected shortfall.

The budget cuts have led to shifting deputies from park patrol to bailiff duty in courtrooms, the letter from the department said.

Bailey said in an email that "deceptive budgeting" by Abele led to the projected deficit.

"To close this deficit we were handed, we would have to shut down our expressway patrolling division or perhaps our courts bailiff division," Bailey said. "That would be unlawful, there would be no public support for it (nor should there be), and we aren't going to do it."

Abele would be happy to work with Clarke "if he needs help staying within his approved budget," said Brendan Conway, Abele's spokesman.